Storm creates commuter crisis for Melbourne's afternoon peak-hour

Jessica Wright and Anna Whitelaw

Melbourne is in the midst of a commuter crisis with major roads, train and tram lines and routes out of the city closed due to high winds, traffic accidents, flooding and strewn debris.

The evening commute is expected to be a heavy, slow affair in all directions as fallen trees have contributed to the suspension of five train lines - Hurtsbridge, Stony Point, Belgrave, Cranbourne and Pakenham.

Trains are not running between Bayswater and Belgrave due to a fallen tree at Upper Ferntree Gully; another fallen tree near Macleod has suspended the Hurtsbridge line between Heidelberg and Eltham in both directions; and trains aren't running on the Stony Point line between Stony Point and Frankston because of a fallen tree at Tyabb.

Emergency workers are frantically trying to clear the lines in time for peak hour and replacement buses are replacing trains.

Meanwhile, a car has been hit by a V/Line train and trains are not running on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines between Caulfield and Oakleigh with significant delays expected.

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Metro spokesperson Pauline O'Connor said no one had been injured and the car had since been cleared from the rail line."We're waiting for emergency services and Metro services to assess damages," she said.

Replacement buses have been ordered to service passengers between Caulfield and Oakleigh.

The east-bound lane on Glen Iris Road in Camberwell is closed due to fallen power lines. Emergency services are on site trying to clear the problem. Drivers in the area should brace for delays.

There is good news, however, for tram travellers with earlier disruptions on tram routes 96, 19 and 57 resolved for the afternoon peak-hour.

Commuters are urged to check Metro Train, V/Line and Yarra Trams websites before the trip home for the latest updates.

The state's public transport authority has apologised to commuters forced to battle service disruptions throughout the day.

Speed limits on the West Gate Bridge were halved to 40km/h for most of the day as wind gusts reach nearly 100 km/h, however the current speed limit has been upgraded to 60km/h. VicRoads is warning of heavy delays across the bridge and on the West Gate Freeway. Drivers are urged to take care.

The Eastern Freway at Balwyn North has all east-bound lanes closed after a vehicle breakdown.

The Queen Street Bridge has been reopened after being closed from Market Street, in the city, to Whiteman Street, Southbank. Drivers may experience residual delays.

All lanes are closed southbound from Flinders Street to Power Street due to flooding of the Yarra which has broken its banks in several places throughout the CBD.

Emergency services are on site and drivers are advised to seek an alternate route.

Two right-hand lanes inbound on the Tullamarine Freeway that were blocked due to fallen light poles were cleared about 4pm but drivers may experience some residual delays.

Further afield, all northbound lanes of the Hume Highway in Craigieburn were closed during most of the day due to a tree falling across the road.

A truck rolled over around lunchtime on Western Highway in Ravenhall, leaving all outbound lanes near Robinson Road closed. Both roads are expected to be closed for several hours.

Heavy snow falls have closed Marysville-Woods Point Road in Cambarville near Marysville as holidaymakers head towards the state's snow fields. VicRoads expects both roads to be closed for several hours. The Great Alpine Road at Harrietville was earlier closed but has now been reopened.

Scrubby Creek Track and the Benambra-Corryong Road in the Nariel Valley, near the New South Wales border, have also been closed.

They could remain closed for several days until the snow falls stop.

And in nearby Mitta Mitta, there are delays on the Omeo Highway between Lightning Creek and Glen Wills.